Mail-pouch



2 Sheets-#Sheet 1.

l (No Model.)

W. H. PRICE.

MAIL POUCH.

. No. 428,228. 11mm-.ed May 2o, 1890.

Inwnar.' j W @My 2'/ 'M (No M0881.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

W. H. PRICE.

MAIL POUGH.

No. 428,228. Patente-d May 2o, 1880.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM H. PRICE, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

MAIL-POUCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,228, dated May 20, 1890.

Application filed September 12, 1889. Serial No. 323,726. lNo model.)

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM I-I. PRICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oolumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Mail-Pouches; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in Inail-pouches of that class in which the mouth opens in square form; and the objects are, first, to provide a pouch with such mouth without the employment of the usual metallic hinged bars composing the frame; second, to provide a locking device that will extend throughout the entire width of the mouth and will hold the same securely closed and entirely burglar-proof when locked with the usual padlock; third, to provide a pouch with a mouth which will be entirely flexible, either closed or open, without the use of hinged bars, and, fourth, to provide a mailpouch With a mouth entirely flexible throughout its entire width, which when open will remain in such position while being Iilled. These objects I accomplish by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective View of a portion of a mail-pouch with my improvements applied thereto, showing the mouth open. Fig. 2is a longitudinal horizontal sectionalview taken through the fold of themouth for a portion of its width,looking toward the back sections and showing the parts closed. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the strap for lockingthe catches, partly broken. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the T-head catches and slots and a part of the back sections. Fig. 5 shows a modification of the slot 'and hook. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a pouch with the locking-strap located within the fold thereof. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the same when in closed po-` sition. p

In the drawiu gs, the letter A indicates a mailpouch ofthe ordinary kind, having a portion of its upper or open end turned lover and folded down upon the inner side of the pouch and securely fastened by rivets This folded portion is suitably cut at four distinct places to form bendable corners B B and B B', thus dividing said folded portion into four sections b b and h b', respectively, the two former for convenience being designated as front sections, and the two latter as back sections. By cutting the fold as shown I produce a pouch with a mouth adapted to open in square form, and when closed to told tightly together, the respective sections folding one upon the other. The back sections are provided with catches O, either hooked or T- shaped, as shown, which are securely riveted to both body and fold. The front sections are provided with slots D, protected by escutcheon-plates d, and may be either longitudinal to receive the hooked-shaped catch or vertical to receive the T-shaped catch.

' Located within the fold-sections b b, running the entire length of the same, is a reciprocating locking-strap F, provided with slots f, corresponding to the slots in the front section. These slots are protected by an escutcheon-plate f', running nearly the entire length of the strap, said plate serving to stiffen the strap, thereby rendering the reciprocation of the same much easier. Vhen the T-head catches are used, the slots f and plates f are made T-shaped, as shown in Fig. 5. Rigidly attached to the outer end of the locking-strap is a hinged hasp G, and near the inner end is a tongue g, projecting out through a sloty, made in the outer side of the fold, said tongue serving as ameans to reciprocate the strap in one direction-that is, to unlock it-the hasp serving as a means to reciprocate or slide it in the opposite direction to lock it. It will, however, be plainly seen that the hasp can be used to manipulatethe strap to both unlock and lock the mouth of the pouch by pushing back on the hasp to unlock and drawing it out to lock it. Secured to one of the back sections is a staple l-I, adapted to pass through a slot h in the front section, andan elongated slot h in the reciprocating strap, each slot registering with the other. The

slot in the strap is made about twice the length of the other to allow for the reciprocation of the strap in lock-ing and unlocking the pouch.

Instead of coneealin g the locking-strap Wi thin the fold of the pouch proper,it may be concealed Within the fold I of the iiap J, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which it will be seen that the slots D are made entirely through the front sections and are protected on each side by escutcheon-plates ci, and that corresponding slots F', protected by escutcheon-plates f2, are made in the inner fold of the flap. A slot II is made in the flap and registers With the slot 7L, for the purpose of receiving the st-aple H.

The operation of both forms of my device is very simple, and will be readily understood from the description herein contained. In the iirst form the mouth of the pouch is closed by pressing together the front and back sections, which causes the catches to be received into the slots in the front sections and the strap, respectively. The strap is then drawn out by the hasp. This action causes the slots f to assume the position shown in Fig. 2, in which it will be seen the shank of the catches is confined at the adjacent ends of the slots D and f,thus securely locking the catches and holding the mouth of the pouch tightly closed. The staple I-I having been received into the slots h and h', respectively, the hasp Gis turned over upon said staple and the padlock inserted in the staple, thus locking the mouth of the pouch against every one but the proper person or persons.

In the second and much the preferred form the operation is similar to that of the first-described form. After the mouth of the pouch has been closed, by pressing the front and back sections together, the flap is closed, and the locking-strap is manipulated in the same manner as above described to lock the catches within the slots. The hasp is then turned over upon the staple, the padlock inserted, and the locking is complete.

To open the pouch in either form,the padlock is iirst removed. The strap is then drawn back by pulling on the tongue or pushing in the hasp, either of which acts releases the catches from the slots, so that the mouth of the pouch can be readily and quickly opened, both the locking and unlocking operations requiring but a moments time.

It will be observed that the staple G when inserted through the slots acts to prevent the label from being taken out or lost from the holder.

A mailpouch constructed as above described possesses many advantages ovcr those heretofore constructed and used. For instance, in my improved pouch I have avoided the use of metal-framed mouths, against which so many objections have been raised. Then, again, I have produced a pouch having a perfectly-flexible mouth throughout its entire width, which is a great desideratum. Besides,When closed and locked, the pouch prepearance, doing away With the unsightly and highly-'objectionable metallic frame, as Well as the projecting staples and catches and the old, undesirable, and cumbersome lacingcord, all of which devices are unsightly to the eye and frequently injurious to the persons handling the pouches. Thelocking and unlocking are accomplished much more rapidly than can be donc with the pouches now in use, and when locked is more secure, as the locking-strap cannot be tampered with Without first cutting through the outside of the pouch, the said strap being entirely concealed` from vieW. The whole as a mailpouch is most convenient in form and effective in use.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A mail-pouch having its upper or open end turned over and folded down upon the inner side, said fold suitably cut at four places to form bendable corners to adapt the mouth of the pouch to be opened in approximately square form and to maintain such position when desired, substantially as speci fied.

2. The combination, in a maihpouch havd ing a mouth constructed and arranged to l open in approximately square form Without v the use of hinged bars, of a concealed sliding locking-strap adapted to engage catches on the back sections, and means for sliding said strap to lock the pouch, substantially as specified.

3. A mail-pouch having its upper or open end turned over and folded down upon the `inner side, said fold being suitably cut at four places toV form bendable corners to adapt v the mouth of the pouch to be opened in ap proxi mately square form, in combination with a reciprocating locking-strap adapted to engage catches on said fold,and means for manipulating said strap to lock the catches, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, in a mail-pouch havylng a mouth constructed and arranged to open in approximately square form Without the use of hinged bars, of a sliding locking strap concealed Within a fold of the flap or pouch proper, and adapted to engage catches on the back sections, and means for manipulating said strap to lock the pouch, substantially as specified.

5. In a mail-pouch having its mouth constructed and arranged to open in approximately square form, the combination, with the back sections, of a locking-strap concealed Within the iiap or pouch proper, and

- provided With suitably-arranged slots to e11- gage catches on said back sections, and means for manipulating said strap to lock the pouch, su bstantially as specitied.

6. In a mail-pouch having its mouth constructed and arranged to open in approxi- :mately square form, the combination, with sents a neat and comparatively smooth apthe back sections having a series of engaging catches, of a sliding locking-strap concealed Within the iiap or body of the pouch, and

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provided with a series of slots adapted to re.

ceive and engage the catches inlooked position, substantially as speciied.

7. In a mail-pouch having its mouth constructed and arranged to open in approximately square form, the combination, With the back sections having a series of engaging catches, of a sliding locking-strap concealed Within the flap or body of the pouch, and provided With a series of slots adapted to receive the catches, and a tongue for operating the strap to unlock the catches, substantially as specified.

8. In a inail-pouch having its mouth constructed and arranged to open in approxi- 

